As part of my 18 week training plan, I am going to try to get my speed back that I had in 2008 when I set most of my road personal records. The means to the end will involve a great deal of speed work, to which I have already been working on this summer while in Michigan. It also means several test runs to evaluate my fitness. The first test was the Twilight 5km a couple of weeks ago when I ran a 17:14. This time was faster than this year in warmer conditions. The second test was the 10km at the Windsor Rodeo in Iron River, MI.
I knew that being a first time event, and offering two distances (5km and 10km) that the field would be small and the competition would not be very high. I was not out for a victory, but a test of my 10km fitness given the amount of speed work I had been doing as of late.
After making the hour long drive to Iron River from Iron Mountain, I arrived early to find no one at registration. I drove around town to see if there were any course markings and I could not find any. When I got back at the school and waited patiently amongst a slightly disorganized registration line, I checked the 10km box on the entry form (which asked for signature, but not for name or address). The guy behind me commented about me winning the race and I said my biggest worry was not getting lost after I heard there was no lead car/bike.
I had some stomach issues before the race and while I was out warming up for a couple of miles, had to make a pit stop in the woods. I hoped that this would not plague me during the race. I made it back in time to suit up and move over to the starting line.
The non-competitive bike ride started just before the race. Standing at the starting line, I noted 2-3 people who looked like runners who might be up front and push the pace. The bibs were marked with orange or yellow stickers for the different distances, 10km and 5km. The race director tried to describe the course and said it was marked on the road and that there were some significant hills. I really did not know what to expect as I didn't know the area.
From the gun, there were a few people who sprinted out at 5:15 pace but by the time we made the first turn, it was down to 3 people, which included me. The first climb was 125' in just 1/4 of a mile or about a 10% grade. A very young kid wearing basketball style shorts and racing flats was in the lead, followed by me and another young kid with a mohawk and wearing an ipod. We had already caught up with some of the bikers, who were pushing their bikes up this hill; a testament to the difficulty. We split the first mile in 5:52.
By the 1.25 mile mark, I had caught up to the leader and ran alongside him for a few seconds. I noticed that he had a yellow sticker, which meant he was running the 5km. I told him that he was running strong and then I made a move to pass him by before making the turn to the left where the two races split. I glanced back at the turn and saw that mohawk boy also turned toward the 5km, which meant that I was out front and running all alone. There was one more competitive looking runner at the start who I knew was running the 10km but I didn't see him behind.
The second mile was mostly downhill as we ran north along a very busy county road 653. I got back into the grove and split a 5:39 second mile which felt pretty good. The third mile was more climbing in the later stages of the mile and the pace showed as I ran a 5:49, putting me at 17:20 through 3 miles. Turning onto Forbes Road just before the 3 mile split I took one more glance back and did not see a single person trailing behind. This would be my race to lose, though I was not about to ease up. I wanted to post a fast time to test my fitness and also to set a high water mark for people who run this race in the future.
Into the 4th mile I was feeling very relaxed and running easy. There was an aid station in this mile that was not manned, having just a cooler with some cups. The temperature was only in the mid 60's and I didn't need any so ran by. The entire 4th mile was again climbing and I notched a 5:57 split.
I knew that sooner or later we had to reclaim all of the climb with decent, I just didn't know where and when it would happen. It turned out to be mostly downhill from the highest point on the course at the 4 mile split all the way to the end. I got passed by one of the bikers, a middle-aged man who commented that I was looking good. He said that there was no one even close behind me, as he had gotten a late start and ridden through the pack. This was a confidence booster, and along with the downhill sections, I was starting to pick up the pace and increase my leg turnover. The 5th mile split was a 5:49.
I knew now that I had just one more mile to tough out and then the sprint home for the last quarter mile. The one thing that the race director did get right was that the course was accurately marked and measured. My GPS would auto-lap every mile just at the marker on the road, which was reassuring that the time I would post at the end would be legitimate. Also I was able to put away the fears that the course would not be marked as each turn had spray paint on the ground. They also had white signs that you could see from a distance, which helped to run the tangents of the course.
There were people starting to assemble in town for the parade, so the final mile felt easier than the preceding five. They weren't necessarily cheering for the runners, but jut seeing people made it feel not so lonely as the north countryside. I have had the taste of victory before but not that often. Coming into this race I had won 15 times of 175 races, or at a rate of less than 8 times in a hundred, so not very often. So infrequently in fact that when leading I get very nervous in the late stages that something is going to go wrong and I am going to get nipped at the end. Today I stayed strong in the final mile, clocking a 5:43, showing that the slow pace early on was paying off now with fresh legs late.
I did not see the 6 mile mark (until during my cool down) but I knew where I was again with respect to the school, so I started to accelerate. We had done cut downs at the track on Tuesday (2x1200, 2x800, 2x400, 2x200) at increasing pace to teach me to run faster toward the end and that I just was I was doing here. I had to dodge of few of slower 5km runners and ask the finish line volunteer which side to choose, as I think I surprised them with my time. I stopped my watch as I crossed the finish line at 35:56. After battling so many hills, I was very happy with the time.
After the took my bib tag (which they affixed to a board and would later blow off in the wind) I jogged back on the course to cool down. Jogging very slowly, I went back a full half mile before I saw the next runner. I would guess that 2nd place was 8-10 minutes behind, though I have not seen the official results yet. I kept jogging back and found Fast Freddy Jacobs and turned around, jogging with him as he finished.
The awards took some time to figure out, but I was very patient, knowing that it was a first time event and they were figuring it out as they went along. Eventually they announced all of the age group finishers for the 10km but did not announce the overall winner. Luckily I knew Freddy, so we walked over with the microphone and asked me for my time and age, to announce that I was the winner. Quite an unusual ceremony, but I felt it important to stay around. It was not for the recognition, but to help support the event.
All in all I think it turned out to be a very good day. I ran a little faster than I thought I would, and I had a lot left late if I had been pushed. It was a successful test of fitness leading into the Lake Antoine Classic 15km this weekend and the trail half marathon two weeks after that in Seattle. I can see that the hard work of quality miles, over quantity, is showing dividends and I will continue to work hard toward my goals.
It was also good to see Cheryl Scott again, from the local area. She notched a personal best for the 10km and won her age group. Congrats Cheryl!
Here is the elevation profile for the race.
